The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-26
TWO cAsKETs FOR $4,000.
Strange and Costly Burial Cases for a
Boston Family.
From the Boston Herald.

From the Boston Herald
A reporter ran across a curious item the
other day which, while it may read like an
Arabian Nights tale, is known TO be true in
every respect by a dozen people within a
short distance of Boston. A gentleman
whose word is to be implicitly relied upon,
and whose statements have subsequently,
been confirmed by other investigations, said
TO the writer:
I'm tell you something worth printing,
but you must not use names nor mention
localities, as the entire matter is being kept
a great secret. A year ago last April firm of
manufacturing undertakeTs in this vicinity
were given the most extraordinary commits
sion which they had ever received. They
were told to make two mahogany caskets of
a particular design, to be above the usual
size, and in many parts fully six inches in
thickness. They were cautioned not TO say a
word to any one about what they were doing,
as their customer dreaded publicity in the
matter. The caskets were made as ordered
1t required 800 worth of mahogany TO COM
plete them, as only the best wood and planks
wide enough to make each side consist of
one piece would answer. When they were
ready to be shipped from the factory pho
tograph was taken, and an inkling Of the
affair got out in this way. | know that re-
porters of almost every Boston paper tried
to get look at them, or learn for whom
they had been made, but without avail
They were taken from the factory in two
two-horse wagons, each one making heavy
load for pair of horses to draw. Outside
cases of the same material were also provided
at great expense The owner of the caskets
had them taken to his estate and placed in
building which he had erected on purpose
to receive them. In that building two of
the best wood carvers to be obtained have
worked ON these casketS steadily for the
past fourteen months, and they have no
where near finished the first one They
were carving into the mahogany the most
wonderful and intricate designs which you
could imagine, all from sketches furnished
by eminent artists. There is spider in the
centre of a web, so delicate that ones
breath would almost seem to move it:
skulls, from which life-like serpents are
crawling; owls, hour-glasses and hun
dred other things with symbolic mean
ings AT the rate the car vers are progress
ing it will take several years to finish their
work. and when it is done it will be the
most marvellous thing of the kind in the
world, I'll venture to say. | should think
$4,000 would be low figure for both cas-
kets. The insides will contain silken ham
mocks in which the bodies will lie, and
many other strange and unique embelll sh-
ments The gentleman who Is having the
caskets made has purchased an entire knoll
in one of the most beautiful of our ceme-
{ 7ries and, it is said. will expend $125, 900
upon the tomb in which they are ultimately
10 be placed"
And who is this eccentric individualg"
queried the reporter.
He is a gentleman connected with the
medical profession, having an office in Bos-
fpp HIS xvifa tAyhn 20 ~ y,nsefhIa ,,,o,.o
interest in the caskets than himself, is said
to be the granddaughter of'a baron, and is
reputed very rich in her own right. Their
residence is in one Of the towns reached
from the northern depots. Now that is all
you are to know. Print what / have dis
closed, If you like, but for goodness sake
don't say who told you"